How I am building 3 businesses at 20 years old!

Social Network , Gaming

India

20 Years

Hi, I'm Aditya Gaurav, a 20-year-old living in Mumbai, India. I run three businesses currently.

Knowasiak: A global Social Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Owners with 17,000+ users from 115+ countries, fostering knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and growth among aspiring and established entrepreneurs.

Cognac Metaverse: The World's First Photorealistic Metaverse and a revolutionary virtual experience platform. Winner in the World Championship of Game Development competing against 149 countries.

SkuixStudios: A Leading Phonk and Wave Music Release and Promotion Channel with 20,000+ subscribers, serving as a launchpad for music creators and a hub for fans of these genres.

I started Knowasiak on May 5, 2020, while I was in 10th grade. SkuixStudios was founded in May 2020 to provide a global platform for niche music creators, We started full-fledged operations in September 2023. Cognac Metaverse was conceptualized and launched in 2022, evolving from my passion for immersive technology and creative innovation.

What inspired you to start your own business?

The inspiration came from observing gaps in the market and my desire to make a meaningful impact.

For Knowasiak, I noticed a lack of a focused platform where entrepreneurs and business owners could share knowledge, collaborate, and grow together. I wanted to build a community that empowers creators and changemakers globally.

SkuixStudios emerged from my passion for music and my observation that upcoming Phonk and Wave artists needed a platform to showcase their talent to a wider audience.

Cognac Metaverse was born out of my vision to create a fully immersive, photorealistic virtual world that redefines how people experience and interact with technology.

How did you go from idea to product? Take us through your process of starting and building your business.

The journey from idea to product required intense focus, resilience, and iteration:

Identifying the Gap: For each of my ventures, I started by studying existing markets and identifying unfulfilled needs. For Knowasiak, I observed the lack of a global social network for entrepreneurs focused on providing real value. With SkuixStudios, I saw an underserved niche in promoting Phonk and Wave music genres. For Cognac Metaverse, I envisioned an ultra-realistic, immersive world that stood apart from cartoonish or gaming-centric virtual worlds.
Research and Planning: I conducted deep research to understand my target audience and their pain points. I spoke to potential users, validated the ideas, and created detailed blueprints for the platforms.
Prototyping: I created prototypes for each venture. This involved coding for Knowasiak and Cognac Metaverse and curating a cohesive brand identity for SkuixStudios.
Testing and Feedback: I shared early versions of the platforms with small groups of users and artists. Their feedback helped refine features and prioritize what mattered most to them.
Iterative Improvements: By constantly testing, refining, and improving based on user feedback, the products grew into full-fledged platforms that served their intended purposes effectively.
Launch in Beta: Once the prototypes were polished, I launched beta versions and actively engaged with the initial user base, focusing on providing value to encourage retention and organic growth.

How did you grow your business? And get your first customers?

The growth of my businesses can be attributed to providing genuine value, understanding my audience, and building strong relationships:

Organic Growth: For Knowasiak, I began by inviting family, friends, and acquaintances who were entrepreneurs or business enthusiasts. As they found value in the platform, word-of-mouth referrals brought in new users from across the globe.

With SkuixStudios, I started by promoting lesser-known artists in the Phonk and Wave genres. Consistent quality uploads and a focus on showcasing fresh talent attracted a loyal subscriber base.

Cognac Metaverse grew by participating in global events and competitions, which helped gain international recognition and credibility.

Providing Real Value: The secret to growth lies in building startups that offer tangible benefits to users. By focusing on user needs and delivering real solutions, I created platforms people genuinely wanted to engage with.

Community Building: Actively engaging with users and artists created a sense of community. This led to higher retention rates, increased referrals, and sustainable growth.

Tell us about your achievements.

At 17, I became the youngest person in India to receive the Bharat Atma Nirbhar Award from the Indian Achievers’ Forum. At 19, I was invited as a VIP to the G20 Global Summit and B20 Summit. On the 10th of August, 2024, I was specially invited by the (CII) Confederation of Indian Industries to discuss the new Prime Minister Internship Scheme. I have worked on 15+ state and national-level NGO projects, including UNICEF awareness campaigns and initiatives by the YuWaah, Narcotics Control Bureau of India, Central Government of India and Maharashtra State Government. I was also the Youngest World Champion in Game Development in GDWC 2022 out of 149 Countries globally at the age of 19.

What are the lessons you have learned?

Not all doors are meant to be opened: Some opportunities may not align with your goals, and that's okay. Knowing when to say no is as important as recognizing the right opportunity.
Age is not a defining factor: Your ability to succeed depends on your vision, effort, and determination, not your age.
Embrace challenges: Every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. The biggest challenges often teach the most valuable lessons.
Patience is key: Success doesn't come overnight. Consistency, hard work, and patience are crucial.

What advice do you have for budding founders?

Resilience Wins: Life throws challenges at everyone. Those who stand firm, adapt, and continue to push forward are the ones who succeed.
Learn from Failure: Every failure is a step closer to success. Use setbacks as learning opportunities and don’t fear making mistakes.
Focus on Value: Always build something that provides real, measurable value to your customers. If they benefit, your business will grow.
Stay Patient: The clock turns to 12 for everyone eventually. Trust the process, stay consistent, and success will follow.

Where can we find you?

Book Recommendations

The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco
Principles: Ray Dalio
The 5 AM Club: Robin Sharma